Tweeters tell Jacob Zuma what to say
2011-02-03 09:35
Johannesburg - Potholes, free education and ANC Youth League president Julius Malema should be included in President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address next week, according to Twitter users.
"Create more jobs, stop wasting the taxpayers' money on nonsense, get rid of corruption and get rid of Julius [Malema]," wrote a user on the popular social network.
"Demand ambitious targets for the uptake of renewable energy. SA is one of the highest emitters of carbon per capita," said another.
A third said: "Potholes on NW roads. Worse than having no tar roads. We buy tyres and fix rims every few mnths (sic)."
This is the first time the presidency has used social media to gather ideas for the State of the Nation address.
Super social support
"We first joined the social networks when [Deputy President] Kgalema Motlanthe was still president, but our activity has steadily increased since President Zuma has been in office," the presidency said in a statement.
"We have quite active support on both Twitter and Facebook, and we feel that our followers represent quite a considerable part of our constituency, so we use the platforms to encourage suggestions and engagement."
The president's office said it would filter and select certain comments to be presented to Zuma.
The deadline for suggestions was originally Wednesday but had been extended to Sunday due to the service's popularity, presidency spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told Sapa.
"This is due to overwhelming interest shown by South Africans across all spectrums. This is in line with the President's vision of participatory democracy," he said.
Zuma will present the State of the Nation address on February 10 at 19:00.
Other Twitter comments included:
- "Use low cost web conferencing to deliver lessons/courses to 100 000 or more persons simultaneously";
- "Pls explain what SA Govt is doing right now to prepare SA for #peak oil scenarios regarding transport (sic)";
- "Desperately need to raise standard of primary & secondary education so that all are equal, wot about volunteer facilitation? (sic)"
- SAPA
